Permanent Residential Pitch Application: Explanatory Notes

PERMANENT RESIDENTIAL PITCH APPLICATION: EXPLANATORY NOTES

PLEASE READ THESE TWO PAGES CAREFULLY BEFORE FILLING IN ANY FORMS

We will only accept applications from people who meet the following criteria:

To be answered by the main applicant

1. Are you a Gypsy or Traveller?YesNo

2. Are you over 16 years old?YesNo

3. Do you have access to caravans in YesNo

which you can live?

If you have answered NO to any of the above questions please contact the Gypsy and Traveller team to discuss your application, you may not meet the criteria for the allocation of a pitch.

If you answered YES please complete the application form answering all questions as fully as possible, this will speed your application.

Please remember, that even if you have said yes to all of the above, you may still be turned down if:

You or anyone included on your application form has behaved in the last 3 years in a way that may affect the management of the Council’s site or cause a problem for people living or working on the site or its vicinity.

You already have access to suitable accommodation

Examples of exclusion could be where you, or member of your household has, especially recently;

a)Been subject to court orders or injunctions relating to behaviour on sites within or outside Bristol or towards Council Officers or where there is evidence

b)Supplied false or misleading information, knowingly or recklessly when making an application for a pitch

c)Moved onto a Bristol City Council site without the Council’s permission and consent in advance

Proof of Identity

When you make your application you will need to provide proof of identity for everyone included on your application. Two forms of ID are required for each adult with at least one being from the four options in bold listed below.

Passport
Home Office Travel Document
Drivers License
Birth Certificate
Income Support/Benefits award letter
Bank Statement
Utilities Bill

If there are any children on your application you will need to provide either of the following options for each one:

Child Benefit book (must include all children's names)
Child Benefit award letter (must include all children's names)
OR
Birth certificate for each child and proof that Child Benefit is being paid into your bank account
In some cases we may also need other information or evidence in order to process your application or assess your priority for housing.

Application Process

If you want to apply for a pitch you must use the application form at the back of this information pack.

1.If you need help to fill in the application form, please call 0117 9224770 and speak to someone from the Gypsy and Traveller Team. You could also ask for help at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau or one of the Council’s Customer Access Points on the list on page7 and 8.

2. When you have filled in the application form, you must send it to:

The Gypsy & Traveller Team

Bristol City Council

100 Temple Street

St. Georges Road

Bristol BS1 5UY

If we need more information, we may visit you.

Bristol City Council will consider all applications from applicants who meet with the criteria.

Once your application has been received the information you have provided in your application will be assessed using the points scheme (enclosed).

You will be informed of the points your application has been awarded in a letter.

If you disagree with the points your application has been awarded you have a right to appeal. If you do not have a postal address, you can collect your letter from a Council office. This would have to be arranged with you.

If you want to appeal you must complete an Appeals Form within 7 days of getting your decision letter. When we get the Appeals Form, a Senior Officer of the Council will consider it and give you a decision within 2 weeks. The decision will be final and cannot be appealed against.

Next you will receive a decision by letter. There are two different decisions that can be made:

a) You may be offered a pitch, or

b) You may be added to the waiting list

10.The following things will be taken into account when your application is considered:

a)Pitches are allocated on a points scheme. Points are given to people to reflect their needs and circumstances and can only be given based on the information provided in your application form. The Points Scheme is attached to this document.

b)Where your health is affected by your housing, the points given are allocated in consultation with Health and Housing Officers.

c)If you accept an offer of a pitch, you will be allocated that pitch and can live there for 12 months with an Introductory Tenancy. If at the end of this 12 month period, there are no problems and no rent arrears, the Tenancy can continue.

d)If you refuse an offer of a pitch, you will be added to the waiting list. 20 points will be deducted from the total points awarded to you. Points will be added for each year you are on the list thereafter.

e)If you are on the waiting list, you will need to let the Council know if your circumstances change. You will also have to renew your application each year.

Keep this information in a safe place.

You may need to refer to it later.

Information about Bristol City Council Residential Gypsy Site

The site is small with only 12 pitches. Each pitch is gated and has an amenity block with a fitted kitchen and dining area, a bathroom and a separate toilet. There are electricity hook-ups and a hard-standing area for your trailer(s). Trailers are not provided.

Once you move on site you will be responsible for paying the rent. Rent is payable weekly on a Monday. The current rent levels are below:

Weekly Rent Levels for 2014/15:

Category A pitch (small)£59.02

Category B pitch (medium)£82.02

Category C pitch (large)£85.66

3.You will also be responsible for paying the following bills:

Council Tax (all pitches are Band A)
Electricity
Gas
Water & Sewerage
You will also have the option to set up a landline telephone account.

4. There is a small play area for children.

Bristol City Council manages the site and there is a site manager.

Tenants agree to and sign a Tenancy Agreement.

If you do not understand anything included in this paper or if you want some more information, please call the Gypsy and Traveller Team on 0117 9224770.

Applying for a Permanent Residential Pitch

Points Scheme

Category /

Points

Security of tenure

Homeless (includes nowhere to legally park, and on the roadside). / 20
-OR -
Threatened with homelessness:
Less than 6 months...... / 15
6 months to 1 year...... / 10
More than 12 months...... / 5
Security of tenure:
Rented house...... / 5
Fixed/ assured tenancy...... / 1

Any other tenancy/ license......

/ 3
Rented flat...... / 5
Fixed/ assured tenancy...... / 1
Any other tenancy/ license...... / 3
1st Floor or above with children...... / 3
Bed & breakfast...... / 7
With children...... / 3
Owner occupied house / flat...... / 1
Own site...... / 0
Guest on friends or family site...... / 1
Health:
If your present home (or lack of having legal place to park) is making you ill, or makes a medical condition worse, a health and housing officer can award:

Significant ill health......

/ 15
Severe ill health...... / 30
Family separation:
If your current situation means you are forced to live apart from family with whom you would normally live, we will award up to / 10
Social needs and hardship:
If you need to be near relatives to give, or receive support or care we may award up to / 20
If you are suffering racial harassment in consequence of where you are living, up to / 20
If you are suffering from domestic violence, up to...... / 20
Need to access education:
Child 5 –11 yrs...... / 5
Child 12 – 16 yrs...... / 5
(To a maximum 20 points, allocated to pitch type C applications only)
Social needs points should only be awarded if the situation is not adequately accounted for elsewhere in the points scheme
Older people:
Based on oldest person in household
Over 75 years...... / 10
65 – 74 yrs...... / 7
Local connection:
If Bristol is your home base from which you travel...... / 15

Current or previous Council licence/ tenancy

We will award your application an extra 20 points as long as you do not owe any money on a council tenancy/ licence (current or previous), or if you have not broken any other tenancy conditions. / 20
If you owe money but are following a repayment agreement you will be entitled to these points.

Time in Need

Each year on the waiting list (from dated approved)...... / 10
These points will not be awarded if an offer has been refused (for the year in which the refusal occurred). 20 points will be deducted if an offer of a pitch is declined.

Low Income

If the applicant/ joint applicant(s) does not have dependent children, nor expecting a child, and are in receipt of means tested benefit / 10
If the applicant/ joint applicant(s) have dependent children, or are expecting a child, and are in receipt of means tested benefit / 15

Customer Service Points

(Neighbourhood & Housing Area Offices)

The offices are open from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday

Ashley: covering St Pauls, St Agnes, Montpelier, St Werburghs,

Kingsdown and Cotham
Ashley House
98-100 Grosvenor Road
St Paul's
Bristol
BS2 8YA

Bedminster:covering Bedminster, Southville Ashton and Ashton Vale, Totterdown, Windmill Hill, Redcliffe, Baltic Wharf, Clifton and Hotwells

2-3 Waring House

Redcliff Hill

Redcliffe

Bristol

BS1 6TB

Easton:covering Easton, Lawrence Hill, St Phillips, St Judes and Newtown

Guild Heritage House
Braggs Lane
St Judes
Bristol
BS2 0DN

Fishponds:covering Frome Vale, Hillfields, Fishponds, Oldbury Court, Eastville, Frenchay and Stapleton.

Robinson House
Hockeys Lane
Fishponds
Bristol
BS16 3HL

Hartcliffe:covering Hartcliffe and Whitchurch Park

Symes House
Peterson Square
Hartcliffe
Bristol
BS13 0BD

Knowle:covering Hengrove, Stockwood, Filwood, Knowle, Knowle Park, Knowle West, Inns Court, Novers Hill and part of Brislington West - Hungerford Road

Salcombe House

147 Salcombe Road
Knowle
Bristol
BS4 1AB

Lawrence Weston:covering Lawrence Weston

Ridingleaze House
Ridingleaze
Lawrence Weston
Bristol
BS11 0QE

Southmead:covering Southmead, Westbury-on-Trym, Henleaze and Stoke Bishop

Southmead House
256 Greystoke Avenue
Southmead
Bristol
BS10 6BQ